Trending

Single Serving: ELEL's 40 Watt Dance Party

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 |

Posted by: David Pitz

This is a jam you need to hear, courtesy of rollicking, 8-piece Nashville outfit, ELEL. "40 Watt" is neon-bright and sugary-sweet. Think of it as indie-pop cotton candy for the ears. Lead by frontman Ben Elkins, the band recently signed on the dotted line with Mom + Pop Records, announcing their arrival with two minutes and 55 seconds worth of absolute fun.

We recently swapped a few emails with Elkins, inquiring into the imagery that dances across his brain when he plays the tune. What comes to mind? "About 100 Japanese ladies in kimonos, very traditional looking, all doing a coordinated dance. A lot of the movement is robotic and rigid, with intermittent smooth elements. It looks like one of those grand dancing scenes from movies in the 40s and 50s, very rehearsed and beautiful." Well, that is very specific.

Elkins adds, "it's a very intimate song about recreating a dance club atmosphere in your living room." With its infectious melody, big thumping beat, and frenzy of vocals, "40 Watt" will make a club out of wherever you happen to hear it; on the train, skipping down the street, burying the needle on your speedometer. Its just exciting, which is a quality not lost on the songs writer. "Every time I write a fresh melody," Elkins tells us, "it's like I've just discovered a new color or flavor, or a new street in my hometown. It's so exciting and I can't believe that something exists now that didn't exist before". Thats kind of how we feel about this tune.

The band will release their self-titled EP on Mom + Pop on March 3rd (Pre-order Here). Check out the slate of tour dates they just announced.